Skillfully rolls out AI simulations to help students and jobseekers build career-ready skills for the evolving workforce

New suite targets higher ed and workforce providers aiming to equip learners for skills-first hiring

EdTech company Skillfully has announced the release of its new product suite built for higher education and workforce development organizations.

The platform provides AI-powered simulations intended to help students and jobseekers build and demonstrate skills that align with employer expectations.

The announcement was made at the ASU+GSV Summit, where Skillfully was named to the GSV Cup 50 list. Based in San Francisco and San Diego, the company develops learning tools that support a shift away from degree-based hiring toward skills-based evaluation.

With increasing employer focus on job-ready capabilities, Skillfully’s new suite includes interactive modules built around real-world scenarios, including workplace conversations, interviews, and networking simulations.

Brett Waikart, CEO and co-founder of Skillfully, said: “The future of work is here, and employers are hiring for skills. Our new offering empowers students and jobseekers with practical skills while helping them build confidence, professional presence, and readiness to succeed in today’s competitive job market.”

Simulations deliver feedback, scoring, and employer-aligned training

Skillfully’s platform includes multi-modal simulations designed to replicate common workplace interactions such as interviews, team conversations, and networking. Users engage in structured voice and text-based exchanges that assess professional presence and communication ability.

The simulations are developed in collaboration with employers and focus on both durable and technical skills. Participants receive AI-generated, real-time feedback and scoring that explains what they did well and where improvements are needed. The company describes this as a way to align learner output with job-specific requirements, though no third-party evaluations have been published.

Summer Robins, head of partnerships at Skillfully, added: “Our simulations not only help students and jobseekers discover potential career paths but also give them a realistic preview of the skills needed to succeed in specific roles. By working directly with employers, we can design custom simulations that target the most in-demand skills and bridge the gap between learning and real-world expectations.”

Institutional adoption and use cases

The platform has been adopted by institutions such as Montclair State University, where it has been positioned as a more flexible alternative to traditional internships.

Chantelle Wright, Executive Director for Experiential Education and Career Connections at Montclair, said:

“Skillfully has revolutionized the way we think about experiential education. Our career centers needed to create realistic experiences that are more flexible and accessible than traditional internships. Skillfully has allowed us to do exactly this! Our students can now access work simulations that provide personalized feedback, scoring, and employer exposure, allowing them to see how their skills map to industries that would otherwise be exclusive. They are able to explore various career paths, access on-demand work-based simulations, and develop invaluable career skills.”